Bazan + Dark = Brilliant Conversation!

Take a few minutes and watch this brilliant conversation with David Bazan and David Dark. I think it sums up where lots of people are in their spiritual journey. Its does a fantastic job asking the critical questions we shouldn't be afraid to ask. The moment we assume to have all the answers and stop asking these questions, is the moment our assumptions become a danger to our faith, and the faith of others (my opinion).

Peace,
Ross

When We Were Young

It's been almost a year since I played violin on the live DVD with Stacy DuPree (Eisley), Jeremy Larson, and Darren King (Mutemath). It was quite the experience! They're super talented, humble, and very generous folk. So, if you haven't heard of Sucre, you need to! Here's their first video:

Peace,
Ross

Underdog-Theology

Nearly every epic tale takes an underdog and makes him/her defeat the powerful and mighty. The stories are numerous...from Greek mythology to Aesop's fables, and even scripture. David kills Goliath, Jesus enters Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey to disrupt the political elite and save all of humanity. This underdog tale resonates throughout culture and times. It's prompted civil rights and suffrage movements, and even more recently led to the uprisings in Syria and Egypt.

Today we highlight and exalt the underdogs with our Occupy Movements, NCAA tournaments, and movie The Hunger Games. We love an underdog, and we love to see power and might brought to its knees.

Peace,
Ross

Island-theology

A month or so ago, I posed the question "what would be created if someone with no musical influence, history, or knowledge, was placed on an island with a handful of instruments?" Would they create truly unique pieces, or would we hear commonalities from music which has already been produced?

Taking that same scenario, what would an individual take from the Bible if that were the only book and reference to anything of faith on the island? This individual has never had human contact, or experiences, outside of his isolated island.

Here's 1 thing we must assume:
- the individual can read

So what would his/her response be to Scripture?
- would any of it make sense without community?
- even though it says, "in the beginning was the Word...," would that resonate to be true?
- without human interaction, would law make sense?
- without human interaction, would Jesus make sense?
- would it matter if this person was Calvinist or Armenian, or any other brand of "Christian?"
- could he/she ever be a Christian without following the Great Commission?
- would the Holy Spirit have a more involved role?


All of this makes you ask questions about essentials versus the accoutrements and bits that seem contextual.

I'd love some of your thoughts and more questions!

Peace,
Ross

SPACE

I was greeted by 1,000 freshly pressed and packaged albums today, which means that as of now, the new album SPACE is available! For the next few days you'll be able to download the album for FREE on NoiseTrade.com Please enjoy it and help spread the word!

Peace,
Ross

The Woes of Too Much Mulch

Last week I ordered mulch from the city. Recollection told me that I'd ordered a "full-load" in 2011. But as the following events unfolded, I believe I must have ordered only half, or quarter, or perhaps a smidge of mulch in the past.

Friday morning, University City arrived at the front of my yard with a heaping dump truck full of mulch. (I feel that it's also important to remind the readers that it rained the previous night) The truck raised its back straight into the air, but the weight of the now-wet mulch kept it from sliding to the street. The driver started and stopped the struck several times until alas, the mulch fell. It fell, kept falling, and in my nightmares continues to fall.

Now I'm faced with a mountainous pile of mulch that rivals the size of my suburban. I am beginning to sweat. My yard is not that big. No one's yard is that big. The White House wouldn't need this much mulch. But it was mine - all mine.

I asked how much mulch that was? 3 tons. Dry. So now I was left with over 6 thousand pounds of mulch. What could I do with it?

For the next several hours I took wheel barrow full after wheel barrow full of mulch to every inch of my yard. Kate had told me that she'd read we should only have our mulch 2 inches deep. Let's just say it's closer to 12. And after my back and aching arms could take no more, I looked out to the road to what looked like a pile that hadn't even been dented. I'd somehow distributed nearly 150 wheel barrows full of mulch throughout the miniscule yard of mine, and the pile stands like a beacon of back-splitting-mockery.

I encouraged ALL of my neighbors to help themselves. Heck, even the neighborhood kids decided it would be fun to climb the mountain and jump into the flower bed. No worries, the flowers beneath have a foot of cushion to pad the impact.

Since then its poured rain every night onto the ominous pile of mulch, and I can only imagine how many more back-breaking hours of work (not to mention creativity as to where I can hide and stash the remaining mulch) lie before me.

Who knew mulch could be so filled with woe?

Now I know.

Peace,
Ross

Weekend in Photos

This was a crazy whirlwind weekend full of a NEW NIECE!, ballet, mulch, gardening, music, and more mulch...







Peace,
Ross

p.s. if you need some mulch, please contact me - i was delivered 3 tons...i've lost all creativity as to where to put the extra...